A DISAPPOINTED Rugby United assistant manager Steve Shea had harsh words for his players after they were beaten by the bottom team in the Dr Martens League's Eastern Division on Saturday.

Standing in for the ill Tony Dobson, Shea said: "The players have got to want it more. We seem to accept defeat far too easily.

"It's a difficult period, with injuries and unavailabilities, but when it came to a battle we weren't at the races.

"This defeat drags us into the relegation battle and although I think we'll pick up too many points to go down, I want and expect far more than that."

Rugby started each half brightly but after Danny Hall went close with an ambitious 30-yard free kick that the Sittingbourne keeper could only tip over the bar, it was United's Paul Shepherd who was by far the busier keeper.

After both Dave Pearson and fellow striker Paul White had gone close at the start of the second half Rugby fell behind in the 56th minute when Sittingbourne's King scored from close range after a right-wing cross.

And it was 2-0 seven minutes later when Berry cut the ball back from the left and Marsh thumped home from close range.

Rugby captain Jason Woodley kept battling and there was an outstanding performance at right-back from Michael Salisbury, promoted from the club's youth team.

But as Shea said: "It's a miserable three-hour coach journey home when you've just been beaten."